Display stand



May 9, 1967 MARSCHAK 3,318,461

DISPLAY STAND Filed May 10, 1965 FIG, 1

2 Sheets-Sheet l ,'r 46 8 3 *I :55 .::;7 48 46 48 0 4B FIG,

14 //v VEN T012 Howard J. Marscizak y 1967 H. J. MARSCHAK 3,318,461

DISPLAY STAND Filed May 10, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l N VEN TOE Howard J. Mansclzak azz' United States Patent 3,318,461 DISPLAY STAND Howard J. Marschak, Evanston, Ill. (855 W. North Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60622) Filed May 10, 1965, Ser. No. 454,432 8 Claims. (Cl. 211-133) This invention relates to a display stand, more particularly to the improved means for interlocking and coupling the sections in superposed position to form the stand.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a member, such as a tray, basket or container, which may be readily interlocked and coupled with other such like members to form a tier of same and provide a display stand for merchandise. The interlocking is accomplished by the positioning of one such member upon the next or adjacent lower member, and wherein the interlocking is without the use of extraneous fastening elements such as bolts or the like. Each member is so formed and constructed that its mere positioning on the adjacent member will effectively interlock the two adjacent members, permitting a tier of such members to be formed of any desired height. The members may be readily detached from each other by lifting one away from the other, all without the use of tools or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tray, basket, or container for holding and displaying merchandise, having self-contained coupling means for interlocking with other similar trays, baskets or containers in a tier arrangement by the positioning of one on the other.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tray, basket or container, or the like, formed of side members which have self-contained means for interlocking with the side members of similar adjacent trays, baskets, containers, or the like, to form a tier of same.

Another object of this invention is to provide a container structure having side members formed of a wire material shaped to provide retainers into which is inserted the bottom portion of the side member of the next adjacent upper container. The retainer thereby engages the said bottom portion to interlock the two containers in a nesting relationship without requiring the use of any extraneous fastening means. The interlocking is accomplished by the nesting relationship of the parts without the use or necessity of frictional engagement. When thus interlocked, front and rear sway of a tier of trays is eliminated.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tier of trays which are detachably secured in an interlocking relationship.

Other objects will become apparent as this description progresses.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a plurality of tray sections in superposed relation.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of same.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of one of the tray sections.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the front of two tray sections before same are coupled.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the rear thereof.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged tray sections coupled.

FIG. 7 is a view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a view taken on line 88 of FIG. 6, and

FIG. 9 is a view showing the manner of supporting the mugs in the trays.

While the members illustrated and described are in the form of trays, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to trays but includes baskets, containers, and other receptacles which serve to contain and display any partial view showing the two merchandise. It may be used for displaying canned goods, bottled merchandise, and products packaged in cardboard containers or bags.

As shown in the drawings, all of the tray sections positioned above the lowermost tray section are of identical construction and hence a description of one will suflice for all of said tray sections, except the bottom section. As will be subsequently pointed out, the bottom tray section is generally similar to the other tray sections except for the additional several features of construction which will be subsequently described.

The tray sections positioned above the bottom section and superposed on the bottom section will be identified by the numeral 19. Four of such tray sections 10 are shown in superposed position in FIG. 2, resting on a bottom tray section identified by the numeral 12. While the tray sections 10 when positioned in display position, as in FIG. 2, are on an inclined plane to slope angularly downward toward the front, the individual tray section 10 will be initially described as though it were resting on a horizontal plane, which is the position it wouldassume if it were standing by itself and not on the bottom tray section 12.

Each tray section 10 has a pair of spaced side members 14 which are formed of a wire, bent or preshaped to form a parallelogram, with the top portion 16 extending in a horizontal plane and parallel to the bottom portion 18 and the connecting front side portion 20, parallel to the connecting rear side portion 22. The front and rear connecting side portions are on an inclined plane, sloping rear-wardly with respect to the top and bottom portions 16 and 18.

The lower front corner of the side member 14 has flattened surfaces 24 on its opposite sides which may be formed by compressing and flattening the circular wire. The lower rear corner of the side member has similar flattened surfaces 26. As will be understood, the flattened portions 24 and 26 of the corners merge into the rounded portions of the wire.

The two side members 14 are spaced from each other and are connected together by cross-members at the front and rear. Extending across the front of the tray section in spaced relation are upper and lower wire members, both identified by the numeral 28, which are spot welded at their opposite ends to the connecting front side portions 20 of the side members 14. Adjacent and in contact with each of said wires is a metal cross-strip. The upper and lower strips, both identified by the numeral 32, are spot welded at their opposite ends to the same connecting front side portions 20 of the side members 14. Each of said strips has inwardly turned flanges to form a channel 35 for receiving an identification strip 36 of paper, cardboard, or the like, which may contain advertising or any other information.

Extending across the rear of the tray section are two pairs of spaced wire members which have their opposite ends spot Welded to the rear connecting side portions 22 of the side members. The two upper spaced wire members and the two lower spaced wire members are all identified by the numeral 40. The upper and lower cross-members at the front and rear serve to form supports for the wires extending between the front and rear which form upper and lower tray members. Both such tray members are similarly formed and hence one will be described.

The upper tray member is designated by the numeral 42 and the lower tray member by the numeral 44. Each such tray member is formed of wire members which are here shown arranged for the specific purpose of supporting mugs or cups. It will be understood that other wire arrangements may be necessary if other types of products cups, best shown in FIG. 9,

47 of the set. V to form a downturned generally U-shaped configuration are to be supported. As shown, the Wires are arranged or grouped so that a set of three wires supports the mug or cup. Referring particularly to FIG. 3 which is a plan vie-w of the wire arrangement, and beginning at the extreme left thereof, the three wires comprising the set comprise the wires 46, 47 and 48. The wires 46 and 47 are on the same plane, with wire 48 on a higher plane. The distance between wires 46 and 47 is greater than the distance between wires 47 and 48. The same pattern of wires is repeated to complete the tray member. The next set of three wires and all subsequent sets of three wires are similarly numbered. The spacing between wires 47 and 48 is the same as between wires 48 and 46 of the next set.

When the tray is used to support and display mugs or the mug rests on its side, with the body of the mug positioned to rest on the wires 46 and 47 and the handle of the mug resting on the elevated wire 48. The mugs are arranged one above the other so that when the lowermost mug is removed the remaining mugs will slide forwardly. Each set of three wires in the tray supports a row of mugs or cups. The manner of securing these wires to the front and rear of the tray section is best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. Wires 46 and 47 are of the same shape and are secured in an identical manner.

Referring to wire 47, it has an upturned front end 50 which is spot welded to the front cross-strip 32 and front cross-wire 28. The rear of wire 47 is upturned as at 52 and is spot welded to the two spaced rear cross-wires 40. Wire 46 is similar to wire 47 and is similarly secured. Wire 46 has an upturned front end 49 which is spot welded to the front cross-strip 32 and front cross-wire 28. The rear of wire 46 is upturned as at 51 and is spot welded to the two spaced rear cross-wires 40.

At stated, the wire 48 extends above wire 46 and wire 'Wire 48 is preshaped at its front and rear which terminates in an upturned front end 54 and an upturned rear end 56. The front end 54 is spot welded to wire 28 and cross-strip 32, and the up-turned rear end 56 is spot welded to the pairs of spaced cross-wires 40. All of the wires 46, 47 and 48 are parallel to each other and all the wires 46 and 47 of a tray member are on the same plane, with all wires 48 on a higher or raised plane.

If the tray sections are to hold other types of products, the tray member will most like have to be modified from the foregoing. For example, the tray section may then be formed with a conventional wire or other type of bottom. The tray sections would then, in effect, be baskets, containers or receptacles, all within the purview of this invention.

Secured to each side member 14 is a wire member of generally V-shaped configuration, indicated by the numeral 62, and best shown in side elevation in FIG. 2. The V-bottom tip 63 of said member is spot welded to the bottom 18 of side member 14 approximately centrally thereof. The front arm 64 of member 62 extends upwardly of the top 16 of the side member 14 and is bent forwardly in a substantially horizontal plane to form a side 66 and is then bent inwardly or reversely to form a looped or U- shaped configuration 68 which has a side 70 substantially parallel to side 66 and on the same plane. Side 70 continues downwardly as at 72 to extend on the opposite side of the top 16 of the side member 14.

The arm 64 is spot welded as at 73 to the top 16 on one side and the extension 72 is spot welded as at 74 to the opposite side of the top 16. The looped or U-shaped member 68 extends over and upwardly the front top 16 and in effect straddles the wire top 16. It forms the front retaining member or front socket for receiving and coupling the front of the side member of the next adjacent uppertray section, as will be described.

The rearwardly extending arm 76 of the V-shaped member 62 is similarly constructed and shaped at its rear to for-m a looped or U-shaped member, indicated generally at 80, which has all the details just described with respect to front member 68. It is similarly spot welded to the top 16 of the side member at the rear. The V-shaped wire member 62 thus has at its opposite upper ends U-shaped sockets or coupling means 68 and 80 extending above the top 16 of the side member 14. Each side member 14 thus has a front and rear socket, the purpose of which is to receive and retain in coupled relation the lower endof another tray section which is positioned in superposed relationship.

The other tray sections 10, similar to the one described, are arranged to fit one on top of purpose the flattened front corner portion 24 fits into the front socket 68, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, and the flatten rear corner portion 26 fits into the rear socket 80. The bottom 18 of side member 14 rests on the top member 16 of the next adjacent lower side member 14, as best seen in FIG. 6. The flattened portions 24 and 26 will fit within their respective sockets'and when once inserted therein will be retained in a locked position with one tray sectionsuperposed on the other. A friction fit is not essential since an interlocking will take place by the mere nesting relationship without the use of friction. When thus interlocked there will be no sway either front, rear or late-rally of a tier of such tray sections.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the tray sections 10 when sup- .in such sloped position.

The bottom tray section 12 will now be described. The bottom tray section is formed similar to the tray sections 10, except for the difference principally in the configuration of the bottom of the side members which is such as to position the bottom tray section 12 at an inclined or sloping angle. The sloping angle of the bottom tray section thereby defines the slope of all of the tray sections 10 positioned thereon.

The bottom tray section 12 has a pair of spaced side members 82, each formed of wire, and is shaped to provide vertically extending front and rear side portions'83 and 84- connected at the top by an upwardly inclined top portion 85 and at the bottom by an inverted generally V-shaped bottom portion 86. The vertically extending rear side portion 84 is longer than the front portion 83 and extends above the plane of the front portion to provide the angular slant for the connecting top portion 85 to provide for the slant of the two tray members of said tray section.

Secured to each of the side members 82 is a generally V-shaped wire member 88 which issimilar to the V-shaped wire member 62 described in connection with section 10. The tip 89 of wire member 88 is spot welded to the tip 91 of wire member 86. Said V-shaped wire member 88 is shaped at its opposite upper end similar to that described in connection with wire member 62. Wire member 88 has a front socket or retaining member and a rear socket member 92. These socket members are to receive the flattened front and rear portions 24 and 26 of the tray sections 10, in the same manner as described, in which one tray section 10 is superposed on the other.

The upper and lower tray members 94 and 96 of the The bottom tray section 12 is provided with three angle irons 97, 98 and 99 which are welded thereto. Angle iron 97 is secured across the front and angle iron 99 across the other and for this 7 and are supported V the rear. Angle iron 98 is secured on the rear arm 100 of the inverted V-shaped bottom portion 86. The front and rear angle bars serve to form the base on which the bottom tray section rests. The rear and intermediate angle irons also serve to permit the tray sections when arranged in a tier, as shown, with the merchandise therein, to be lifted by means of a two wheel hand truck and transported by said hand truck to another part of the floor, or to be readily moved to a vehicle which could transport same as a unit. In other Words, by having the front or apron portion of the hand truck slipped under the rear and intermediate angle irons, the entire tier of tray sections could be moved or transported as a unit with the products thereon, in the position shown in FIG. 2.

When the tray sections are superposed on each other, as shown in FIG. 2, the upper and lower tray members of each section slope downwardly from the rear to the front and all are parallel to each other. They are adapted to support products, such as, personalized mugs, cups, or any other desired product.

Instead of using a bottom tray section 12, as described, a separate base or platform made of wire or sheet metal may be used which may have a slope similar to that described. The tier of tray sections will then be supported on the base or platform.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made from the foregoing Without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A tier of trays, baskets, containers or like structures, in which each such structure has a pair of spaced side members of a generally parallelogram configuration, said side members having self-contained retaining means adapted to receive a portion of the side member of the adjacent upper structure and to interlock and couple the two adjacent side members to form a tier of such structures, said self-contained retaining means comprising a coupling member formed of a looped wire member which is welded to the side member to extend upwardly of the parallelogram of the side member at opposite ends thereof.

v2. A structure defined in claim 1 in which the looped wire member is of a generally U-shaped configuration.

3. A structure defined in claim 1 which includes a bottom member formed of a plurality of wires in which the wires are arranged in groups of three wires per group and in which one of the wires of each group of three wires is in a plane above the other two wires.

4. A tier of trays, baskets, containers or like structures, in which each such structure has a pair of spaced side members, said side members having self-contained retaining means adapted to receive a portion of the side members of the adjacent upper structure and to interlock and couple the two adjacent side members to form a tier of such structures, said self-contained retaining means comprising a generally U-shaped member extending adjacent the front and rear of the side member and which extends from a member which is of a generally V-shaped configuration.

5. A structure defined in claim 4 in which the structure forming the base of the tier has side members which position the base structure at an angle sloping downwardly from the rear and which positions all of the structures supported on said base at a similar angle and parallel to said base and in which the base structure has self-contained retaining means adapted to receive a portion of the side member of the adjacent upper structure.

6. A tier of trays, baskets, containers or like structures, in which each such structure has a pair of spaced side members, said side members having self-contained retaining means adapted to receive the side member of the adjacent upper structure and to interlock and couple the two adjacent side members to form a tier of such structures, a base structure for said tier, said base structure having side members, the bottom of which is of an inverted V-shape configuration, and in which a plurality of angle irons are secured to said bottom to extend between the opposite side members, with one of said angle irons secured to the rearwardly sloping arm of said bottom of said side members.

7. A tier of trays, baskets, containers, or like structures, in which each such structure has a pair of spaced side members of a generally parallelogram configuration, said side members having self-contained retaining means adapted to receive a portion of the side member of the adjacent upper structure and to interlock and couple the two adjacent side members to form a tier of such structures, said self-contained retaining means comprising a coupling member formed of a looped wire member which extends upwardly of the top of the side member adjacent the front and rear of the side member with the looped member extending substantially parallel to the top of the side member, said looped wire members adapted to receive the front and rear lower corners of the side members of the adjacent upper structure.

8. A structure defined in claim 7 in which the structure forming the base of the tier has side members which position the base structure at an angle sloping downwardly from the rear and which positions all of the structures supported on said base at a similar angle and parallel to said base and in which the base structure has self-contained retaining means adapted to receive a portion of the side member of the adjacent upper structure.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,272,092 2/1942 Maslow 22021 2,916,293 12/ 1959 Lang 280-79.3 2,950,825 8/1960 Averill 211126 7 3,082,879 3/ 1963 Wilson 211-126 3,083,836 4/1963 Bussemer 211134 3,172,542 3/1965 Nawman et a1. 211-126 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A TIER OF TRAYS, BASKETS, CONTAINERS OR LIKE STRUCTURES, IN WHICH EACH SUCH STRUCTURE HAS A PAIR OF SPACED SIDE MEMBERS OF A GENERALLY PARALLELOGRAM CONFIGURATION, SAID SIDE MEMBERS HAVING SELF-CONTAINED RETAINING MEANS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A PORTION OF THE SIDE MEMBER OF THE ADJACENT UPPER STRUCTURE AND TO INTERLOCK AND COUPLE THE TWO ADJACENT SIDE MEMBERS TO FORM A TIER OF SUCH STRUCTURES, SAID SELF-CONTAINED RETAINING MEANS COMPRISING A COUPLING MEMBER FORMED OF A LOOPED WIRE MEMBER WHICH IS WELDED TO THE SIDE MEMBER TO EXTEND UPWARDLY OF THE PARALLELOGRAM OF THE SIDE MEMBER AT OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF. 